The 11 Best Fall Festivals In Alabama For 2023 Will Put You In The Autumnal Spirit

If you attend this one, be prepared to raise a stein in honor of the city's 150th anniversary at its signature celebration of German heritage. Cullman's founder, Col. Johann Gottfried Cullmann, was a German refugee who came to America in 1866 and established the town just seven years later. The festival is almost 50 years old and features events throughout the city, with most held at the festively decorated Festhalle Farmer's Market and Depot Park. Activities range from a costumed pet parade and races for runners to traditional German dancing, music, and food. Get finer details on the Cullman Oktoberfest website or by visiting the Cullman Oktoberfest Facebook page. Get more tips about things to do in Cullman in our recent roundup.

Join the more than 15,000 people who show up to hear over 200 musicians perform and compete as part of the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention on the grounds of Athens State University. This year marks the 56th year for the festival, which celebrates the ancestral Appalachian roots music of many of the area's early settlers. There's plenty to do when you're fiddling around between the fiddlin', like workshops to learn how to play the fiddle, guitar, or banjo. There's also a large craft vendor area, a food court, a museum, and more. Visit the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention website for scheduled performers and competitions and the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention Facebook page for the latest news.

For a fall festival near Birmingham that's also for a great cause, check out the Moody Oktoberfest, which includes the Cruisin' for a Miracle Car Show. Moody is about a 30-minute drive east of the Magic City and hosts its annual fall annual arts and crafts festival at Moody City Park. Something especially heartwarming about this event is its companion car show, which benefits the city's Miracle League Special Needs Baseball organization. For car show details, visit the Oktoberfest Moody Facebook page.

Although the Mentone Fall Festival took on a new name this year, people can expect all the family fun, arts, and shopping they loved when it was called Colorfest before. The festival will return to Moon Lake Village after a successful move there in 2022. It's the perfect place because the festival supports the village's continued evolution from a 1920s school campus into a destination for shops and studios. While in Mentone, don’t miss the opportunity to hike the popular (and moderate) 1.9-mile Desoto Falls Bottom and Bluff Overlook trail. Visit the Mentone Fall Festival website or the Mentone Fall Festival Facebook page for more event details.

For many Mobile residents, the beginning of fall makes their mouths start watering for the flaky, perfectly gooey baklava and light, airy loukoumades they can find at the long-running Mobile Greek Fest. The event began as Greek Night in 1962 at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church and has grown to include multiple events over three days, including a bazaar with authentic Greek items, Greek music and dance performances, and again - the food! Important tip: The event is cashless, so bring your debit or credit card for purchases. Visit the Mobile Greek Fest website or the Mobile Greek Fest Facebook page for more event details.

Evergreen is in Conecuh County, and if you're not yet aware of the hickory-smoked pork sausage that carries the county name, you can get acquainted fast by attending the 20th Annual Conecuh Sausage Festival. Conecuh Sausage is a family-owned business that originated in Evergreen in 1947, and the meats are sold throughout more than 20 states today. The 20-year-old festival simply celebrates something the community is known for, with a day full of food and crafts vendors, a car show, a rodeo, and kids' activities. It's held at the regional airport, which hosts a fly-in that day. Admission to the festival is free with a separate fee for the rodeo. Visit the Conecuh Sausage Festival Facebook event page for more details.

People in Florence know to look out for lords, ladies, and lots of merriment in downtown's Wilson Park every fall when the Alabama Renaissance Faire has taken place every fourth weekend of October since 1987. This year's event is set for Oct. 28-29. While the festival is free to attend, it's wise to bring cash for vendors selling all sorts of period-appropriate attire, accessories, weapons, and tasty treats. Don't miss the crowning of new royalty on Sunday afternoon, after which the king and queen lead a procession. For more details, visit the Alabama Renaissance Faire Facebook page.

Dia de los Muertos Alabama has become one of the Southeast's most spectacularly colorful experiences for the senses and spirit since it began 21 years ago. There's art at every turn, from installations and vendors to the finery worn by performers and festival-goers. The local Day of the Dead celebration grew from the mission of a Birmingham arts nonprofit organization, Bare Hands, Inc., and is held at the city's Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark. Visit the Dia de los Muertos Alabama official event page or the Dia de los Muertos Alabama Facebook page for more event details.

Closing our list is the longest and largest of the best fall festivals in Alabama, which is a community crop celebration and traditional fair all rolled into one. The National Peanut Festival Fair is Dothan's oldest and biggest event and takes the theme "Peanuts Galore and So Much More!" Dothan is the Peanut Capital of the World, so this year's fair doubles down on celebrating the farmers and their part in driving the Wiregrass economy. There's a massive midway full of thrilling rides, big-name music performances, extensive agricultural demonstrations and displays, and all the fair food you can handle. It should go without saying the boiled peanuts are a must-do, but we're saying it anyway. Visit the National Peanut Festival website or the National Peanut Festival Facebook page for more event details.